MLB Player News

Swanson went 1-for-3 with a walk and two runs scored in Saturday's 9-4 win against the Royals.

It's mostly been a struggle this season for Swanson, but he's been showing some signs of life lately. The shortstop is riding a five-game hitting streak, during which he's gone 7-for-18 with a couple of runs scored and two stolen bases. Swanson is slashing just .219/.291/.345 overall, however, numbers which are all down from last year. He'll need a big finish to get his numbers more in line with his strong results from the past few seasons.

Hays went 1-for-4 with a run scored and a stolen base in Saturday's 8-0 win over the Guardians.

After failing to steal a bag in 63 games for the Orioles prior to being traded Friday, Hays got busy on the basepaths in his Phillies debut. While the 29-year-old is ticketed for an everyday role in left field with his new team, he batted ninth Saturday against right-hander Carlos Carrasco, a spot that will put a damper on his fantasy ceiling despite the loaded lineup around him. Hays is also on pace for the worst season of his career since he become a regular in 2020, slashing .255/.315/.391 with only three homers and 14 RBI, but the change of scenery could help wake up his bat.

Schwarber went 3-for-5 with two doubles and a three-run home run in Saturday's 8-0 rout of the Guardians.

The veteran slugger reached 20 homers on the season when he took Nick Sandlin deep in the fourth inning, one of four Phillies long balls on the afternoon. It was Schwarber's first multi-hit performance since he returned from a groin strain in early July, and his first game with multiple extra-base hits since June 22. On the season, he's slashing .245/.370/.447 with 60 RBI and 67 runs in 93 contests.

Phillips (3-0) picked up the win Saturday in an 8-0 victory over the Guardians, allowing only four hits and a walk over nine shutout innings. He struck out four.

Making just his third career big-league start, the right-hander produced the first shutout by a Phillies rookie since Zach Eflin in 2016. Phillips tossed 105 pitches (71 strikes) in the impressive performance, and his scoreless streak stands at 15 innings after he blanked the Bucs in his previous outing. The Phillies could be looking for rotation help at the trade deadline with Ranger Suarez (back) joining Taijuan Walker (finger) on the IL, but Phillips is proving he can fill one of those spots quite capably. The 26-year-old will take a 1.80 ERA, 0.76 WHIP and 19:2 K:BB through 25 innings into his next start, which lines up to come on the road next weekend in Seattle.

Abbott (9-7) took the loss Saturday, giving up four runs on eight hits and two walks over four-plus innings as the Reds were downed 4-0 by the Rays. He struck out two.

The southpaw fired 60 of 88 pitches for strikes but was getting too much of the plate, as six of the eight hits off him went for extra bases including back-to-back homers in the fifth inning by Alex Jackson and Yandy Diaz. Abbott has been erratic in July -- three of his five trips to the mound resulted in quality starts in which he allowed just one total run, but he got torched for nine runs in 7.1 innings in the other two outings. He'll take a 3.38 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 89:45 K:BB through 117 innings into his next start, which lines up to come at home next weekend against the Giants.

Megill (2-5) took the loss Saturday as the Mets fell 4-0 to Atlanta, giving up four runs on five hits -- including three home runs -- and two walks over six-plus innings. He struck out four.

Making his first big-league start since June 29, Megill looked like he was headed for a pitchers' duel with rookie Spencer Schwellenbach until Marcell Ozuna and Matt Olson clubbed back-to-back solo shots in the fourth inning. Eddie Rosario would then help chase Megill from the game with a third solo blast to lead off the seventh. With Kodai Senga (calf) lost for the season and Christian Scott (elbow) lacking a clear return date, Megill will likely get an extended run in the rotation unless the Mets bring in help at the trade deadline. The right-hander hasn't made a strong case for the job however, posting a 5.20 ERA and 1.40 WHIP through nine MLB starts this season.

Ozuna went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Saturday's 4-0 win over the Mets.

He took Tylor Megill deep in the fourth inning, the first of three solo shots by Atlanta off the right-hander. Ozuna has gone yard in back-to-back games to reach 30 on the season, and he's finishing July in style, slashing .404/.466/.827 over the last 14 contests with seven homers and nine RBI.

Schwellenbach (4-5) picked up the win Saturday, scattering two hits over seven scoreless innings in a 4-0 victory over the Mets. He struck out 11 without walking a batter.

The rookie right-hander was simply dominant, setting a new career high in Ks and becoming just the fifth pitcher in franchise history to have a double-digit strikeout game in the first 10 appearances of their career. Schwellenbach is emerging as an ace for Atlanta -- in four July outings, he's posted a stunning 2.08 ERA, 0.77 WHIP and 28:1 K:BB over 26 innings, not bad for someone who didn't even begin pitching until his final season of college ball in 2021. He lines up to make his next start at home next week against a Marlins team that has already shipped out Jazz Chisholm and could be further depleted by the trade deadline.

Walker (7-3) allowed a run on one hit and one walk over one inning but earned the win in Game 1 of Saturday's doubleheader versus the Rockies.

Walker allowed a game-tying solo home run to Michael Toglia in the top of the seventh inning, but the Giants took the lead right back in their half of the frame. It'll count as the fourth blown save of the year for Walker, three of which have come in July. He's allowed five runs over 12.2 innings this month, raising his season ERA to 2.43 with a 0.93 WHIP and 65:13 K:BB through 55.2 innings overall. He's also earned 19 holds and while settling into a setup role, and he continues to have appeal in fantasy with strong strikeout numbers.

Contreras went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run and a walk in Saturday's 14-3 loss to the Nationals.

Contreras got the Cardinals on the board in the sixth inning, but his homer only cut the deficit to 9-2. The catcher has gone 9-for-31 (.290) over eight games since the All-Star break. For the year, he's up to a .274/.396/.510 slash line with 12 homers, 28 RBI, 36 runs scored, three stolen bases and 13 doubles over 59 contests.